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Eyesore gas station is still vacant

By Patrick Cronin

Hampton Union, Tuesday, August 16, 2011

[The following article is courtesy of the Hampton Union and Seacoast Online.]

Shell Station still an eyesore, available for lease.

HAMPTON -- The vacant site of the former Shell gas station on the corner of Lafayette and Winnacunnet roads in the past referred to as an eyesore by selectmen is now available for lease.

Chris McInnis, of Paul McInnis Inc., based in North Hampton, said they are listing the property for lease and says it offers a unique opportunity in the heart of downtown Hampton.

"Every time I see someone in Hampton they ask me what is going to happen there," said McInnis. "It's kind of a missing piece in Hampton's downtown area."

The 1,008-square-foot building is available for a monthly rent of $2,100.

While there has been a lot if interest and negotiations, McInnis said the place is still available.

The property has been vacant since Shell shut down its station in 2006 after 35 years of operation.

In the past, selectmen have called the vacant property an eyesore because of the chained-link fence surrounding it and at one point asked Shell to donate the land to the town in order to create a public park.

Shell, however, turned down their offer.

McInnis said his client purchased the property in 2011 from the Shell Gas Company.

Gone is the chain-linked fence and the goal, he said, is to get a new business in there.

He called it a prime location because of the traffic. An estimated 31,000 vehicles per day travel down Route 1 passing what he called a "high visibility site."

McInnis said the property is suitable for a number of retail related uses and the current building could be torn down or moved to improve parking.

He said the site can be used as a restaurant, a health care facility, bank, offices and professional establishments, such as insurance agencies, real estate offices, attorney offices, medical professionals, beauty and barber shops, nail salons, cosmetologists, spas, skin care therapies, tanning salons, and massage therapists.

The one thing it can't be used for is another gas station. McInnis said there is currently a 15-year gas restriction on the property.

While there was some environmental issues with the site because of its use as a former gas station, McInnis said it now has a clean bill of health from the state Department of Environmental Services.

For more information on the property call Paul McInnis Inc. at 1-800-242-8354.